Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Sunday Sermon, October 2nd -- The Rosary with St Joseph, The Annunciation (Part 1 of 5)

October is the month of the Rosary, this month we will preach a series of sermons on the mysteries of the Rosary through the unique perspective of St Joseph. We will rely most especially on the writings of the Fathers of the Church and the great theologians, as well as the mystical revelations given to certain visionaries (notably, St Bridget of Sweden, Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich, and Ven Mary of Agreda).

The Annunciation: Mary was already the wife of Joseph, and was most probably living at his house though only betrothed (since betrothal was already a permanent commitment in the Jewish rites). Mary and Joseph had made a vow of virginity within their marriage. Joseph was not previously married and was probably only in his early thirties at the time of the betrothal (our Lady was about 14 or 15 years old). Joseph is part of the "hypostatic order," meaning that we can't understand the Incarnation without St Joseph (even as we cannot think of the Incarnation without Mary).